IN THE CASE OF:	  

		BOARD DATE:	        9 April 2009

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20090000067 


THE BOARD CONSIDERED THE FOLLOWING EVIDENCE:

1.  Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any).

2.  Military Personnel Records and advisory opinions (if any).


THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE:

1.  The applicant requests reconsideration of an earlier appeal for the Presidential Unit Citation with 1st Oak Leaf Cluster (2nd Award). 

2.  The applicant states, in effect, that he is submitting additional documentation with a letter of support from the former commander of Detachment B-5, 5th Special Forces Group that will verify his service with Detachment B-53, 5th Special Forces Group, Camp Long Thanh, Republic of Vietnam from 24 January 1964 through 31 December 1971.  

3.  The applicant provides:

	a.  two pages taken from the internet website Special Forces Books Product Details "Who's Who from 5th SFG(A) TDY in RVN" (enclosures 5 and 6);

	b.  a one-page document from the article "Vietnam Order of Battle" taken from the internet (enclosure 3); 

	c.  Headquarters, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces Special Orders Number 129, dated 23 July 1964; 

	d.  Headquarters, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces Letter Orders T-282, dated 26 August 1964; and

	e.  a letter of support from his former commander, dated 14 December 2008.

CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:

1.  Incorporated herein by reference are military records which were summarized in the previous consideration of the applicant's case by the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) in Docket Number AR20080000644 on 21 August 2008. 

2.  The applicant now provides new evidence in support of his previous request that requires reconsideration.  

3.  The applicant's former commander (William C. C_____) provides a letter of support that confirms the applicant performed duties as the executive and security officer while attached to Detachment B-53, 5th Special Forces Group in the Republic of Vietnam.

4.  The applicant's record shows he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Army Reserve (USAR) and entered active duty in that status on 4 April 1961.

5.  The applicant arrived in Okinawa, Japan and was assigned to B Company, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, on or about 26 May 1964.  

6.  First Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces Letter Orders 
T-282, dated 26 August 1964, show the applicant departed temporary duty (TDY) for approximately 180 days to the Republic of Vietnam on 4 September 1964.

7.  A DA Form 67-5 (U.S. Army Officer Evaluation Report) for the period 24 May 1964 through 2 March 1965 shows the applicant's principle duty was advisor to a Security Battalion and his primary responsibility was defense of the training facility.  His rater during the period of the report was (LTC William C. C_____).

8.  The applicant departed Vietnam on or about 3 March 1965.  There are no orders in the applicant's records that show he was assigned or attached to Detachment B-53, 5th Special Forces Group while serving in the Republic of Vietnam.

9.  On 31 August 1977, the applicant retired.  Item 26 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaigns Ribbons Awarded Authorized) does not show award of the Presidential Unit Citation with 1st Oak Leaf Cluster.  

10.  The applicant provides a letter of support from his former commander, dated 14 December 2008.  The author (William C. C_____, Colonel, (Retired)) stated, on 11 November 1964, he took command of Detachment B-53 and also served as Senior Advisor.  He held the position until August 1965.  The author also states that when he arrived Detachment A-212 was TDY from B Company, 1st Special Forces Group, and had been assigned to Detachment B-53 since September 1964.  They conducted operations until replaced by an A-Team from Fort Bragg in March 1965.  His executive officer and officer responsible for security was the applicant.  The author stated that he worked closely with the applicant.  During this assignment with Detachment B-53 two former Soldiers with Detachment A-212 were killed in action. 

11.  Department of the Army General Orders 25, dated 8 June 2001, which awarded United States Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MAC-V) Studies and Observation Group and numerous listed assigned and attached units which includes Detachment B-53, 5th Special Forces Group, the Presidential Unit Citation.  The period of award identified for Detachment B-53, 5th Special Forces Group, is January 1964 through 31 December 1971.

12.  In his previous case, the ABCMR corrected the applicant's DD Form 214 to add one Presidential Unit Citation.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  There are no orders in the applicant’s service personnel records which show he was attached or assigned to Detachment B-53, 5th Special Forces Group for him to eligible for the Presidential Unit Citation with 1st Oak Leaf Cluster (Second Award).  However, the 14 December 2008 letter of support submitted by the applicant's former commander shows he was commander of Detachment B-53 and that the applicant was assigned to the unit and served as executive and security officer.  

2.  The applicant's OER for the period 24 May 1964 through 2 March 1965 confirms the former commander was his rater during the period the applicant was attached to Detachment B-53.  

3.  The Board accepts the confirming evidence provided by the applicant's former commander as sufficient to show the applicant was attached to Detachment 
B-53 during the period of time the unit was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation.  Therefore, his DD Form 214 should be amended to show award of the Presidential Unit Citation with 1st Oak Leaf Cluster.


BOARD VOTE:

___x____  ___x____  ___x____  GRANT FULL RELIEF

________  ________  ________  GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:

The Board determined that the evidence presented was sufficient to warrant amendment of the ABCMR’s decision in Docket Number AR AR20080000644, dated 21 August 2008.  As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by amending his DD Form 214 to show award of the Presidential Unit Citation with 1st Oak Leaf Cluster.



															XXX
      _______ _   _______   ___
               CHAIRPERSON
      
I certify that herein is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in this case.

ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20090000067



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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20090000067



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